James Robbie Mathers was born in Pleasant Creek [Stawell] in 1867 to James Allen Mathers, a storekeeper and former councillor. He was later to become a storekeeper in Gippsland and then at Heywood, near Portland. Following a move to Melbourne, he established a real estate business. He initially lived in Hawthorn, before moving his business to Kew where he traded as Mathers & McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, and later at 283 Burke Road. For a short time, the family resided at Landene, in Cotham Road. They were to finally move to Rosalea, in Dale Street, Deepdene. Following the death of Cr Henry Kellett in 1924, Mathers was elected unopposed as representative of College Ward. Elected Mayor in September 1930, he convened a meeting of citizens in the Town Hall in Walpole Street to form a local unemployment relief committee. His social initiatives included handing over council-owned premises in Brougham Street, the building re-purposed as a workshop for the unemployed, who were also granted free use of the Kew Municipal Baths. The Mayoress, Jean Mathers, set to work raising funds through charity balls, and also raised funds for St Anthony’s Orphanage in Wellington Street. James Robbie Mathers died on 8 April 1945. He was buried at Box Hill Cemetery. This rare civic testimonial is historically significant, especially locally, as it contains the signatures of all present councillors and parliamentarians representing the City of Kew as well as the names and signatures of leaders of local churches, schools, public officials and leaders of community groups.Boxed presentation folder and correspondence presented to the retiring Mayor of Kew, James Robbie Mather, in 1931. The book is leather bound with gilt lettering on the front. The 4 page testimonial includes and hand written statements about his contribution to Kew and its civic life. Other pages are signed by councillors, parliamentarians and community leaders.james robbie mathers, mayors of kew, civic testimonials

The recipient of the testimonial, Thomas O’Grady (1824-90) had migrated to Melbourne in 1854, practising the trades of building and contracting. The Australian Dictionary of Biography records that he became a Councillor of the City of Melbourne in 1868. It lists one of his major achievements as the construction ‘with Leggett & Noonan [of] the fifty-six-mile (90 km) railway from Essendon to Seymour’. He was chairman of the Tramways Trust from its formation in 1884. His obituary in the Melbourne Herald (29 Apr 1890) reported: "DEATH OF ALDERMAN THOMAS O'GRADY. Today we have the sad duty of recording the death of two old colonists, who for many years, havo occupied very, prominent positions in building, commercial and municipal circles. The first of these is Alderman Thomas O'Grady, who died last night at his residence in Carlton. Mr O'Grady has been ill for some time, and at one period his death was expected any moment. Then he rallied, and strong hopes of his recovery were entertained; but he had a relapse, and expired as stated. The deceased gentleman was one of the oldest members of the City Council, in which he has held the various positions of Councillor, Alderman and Mayor. At the time of his death he sat as alderman for Victoria Ward. Mr O'Grady also at one time represented the City Council on the Harbor Trust, and was chairman of that body. He has been the council's representative on the Tramway Trust and was chairman of that body for some considerable time." As late as 1951, the Advocate (11 Oct 1951) stated that: "To Alderman Thomas O'Grady, Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1872-3, is due the credit of the successful inauguration of Hospital Sunday. Alderman O'Grady was the first Catholic Lord Mayor of the city. He was elected a councillor for Smith Ward in 1868, and an alderman in 1869. In private life he was an extensive contractor, being a member of the firm of O'Grady, Leggett and Noonan, the contractors for the first section of the Northeastern Railways (between Melbourne and Seymour)."This is a unique civic document, illustrating the life and contribution of Thomas O’Grady (1824-90), Melbourne City Councillor and first Chairman of the Melbourne Tramways Trust. It is historically significant in its recording of the development of Melbourne's public transport system. The design of the certificate and particularly the ebonised frame are artistically and aesthetically significant.An illustrated testimonial presented to the first Chairman of the Melbourne Tramways Trust in 1886. The Testimonial is encased in an ebonized frame of the period. It includes the coat-of-arms of 12 cities, corporations, boroughs and towns, including that of Kew. At the head of the testimonial the engines used to drive the cable systems are illustrated. At the foot of the testimonial there is a picture of two cable trams.The testimonial reads: ‘At the meeting of the Melbourne Tramways Trust held on the Fifth Day of February 1886, the following resolution was unanimously carried. That the thanks of the Melbourne Tramways Trust are due and are hereby accorded to Alderman Thomas O’Grady Hon. JP, the first Chairman of the Trust for the ability, courtesy and impartiality with which he has discharged his duties during the past two years, and the Trust heartily congratulates him on the successful opening during his term of office of the Richmond Tramway (the first Cable line constructed in Australia) and tenders him its earnest wishes for his future prosperity and welfare.’ melbourne tramways trust, thomas o’grady (1824-90), cable trams, lord mayors of melbourne

Melbourne : Municipal Association of Victoria, 1901 [16] p. : all facsims. ; 21 cm.non-fictionSix page facsimile, the original produced by the Municipal Association of Victoria on the accession to the throne of King Edward VII. A facsimile edition was printed and presented to each municipality, shire etc in Victoria.edward vii, municipal association of victoria, 1901, testimonials, facsimiles

An article in the Box Hill 'Reporter' (11 October 1907, p.2) refers to the presentation of the artefact to the Kew Town Hall. The report records: 'Presentation to Kew's Ex-Mayor In the mayor's room at Kew on Tuesday evening, Ex-Mayor Cr Wishart was made the recipient of a handsomely-illuminated and exquisitely-framed testimonial as a mark of appreciation by his colleagues of the highly satisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties appertaining to the mayoral office. .... A framed group of the metropolitan mayors was subsequently presented by Cr Wishart as an addition to the pictures hung in the mayor's room.'The newspaper report in the Box Hill Reporter positively identifies the artefact and how it was placed in the Mayor's Room in the Walpole Street Town Hall. The collage is historically significant as it may include the only photograph of a mayor of a city at this period of time.A large framed photographic collage of Henry Weedon surrounded by the Mayors of Greater Melbourne (holding office for the year 1906-07). The photograph was assembled in recognition of the ‘slight favours to them’ showed by the Lord Mayor. The photograph is dated August 1907. Surrounding the central medallion is, from left to right: Cr. C. C. Mercy (Camberwell), Cr. T. L. Taylor (Northcote), Cr. Thos. Smith (Port Melbourne), Cr. W. Flintoft (Prahran), Cr. W. Collings (Fitzroy), Cr. C. D. Lloyd (Caulfield), Cr. W. Wishart (Kew). Cr. Eli Williams (Coburg), Cr. C. Pattison (Essendon), Cr. A. E. Wells (South Melbourne), Cr. H. B. Gibbs (St Kilda), Cr. J. F. Hamilton (Brighton), Cr. C. Dalley (Hawthorn), Cr. C. L. Davey (?), Cr. J. C. Hill (Heidelberg), Cr. D. Phillips (Brunswick), Cr. M. Alexander (Richmond), Cr. W. Johns (Collingwood), Cr. W. H. Edgar MLC (Malvern), Cr. T. P. Hannah (Williamstown) and Cr. A. A. Harris (Footscray). henry wheedon, c. c. mercy, t. l. taylor (northcote),thomas smith, w. flintoft, w. collings, c. d. lloyd), w. wishart, eli williams, c. pattison, a. e. wells, h. b. gibbs, j. f. hamilton, c. dalley, c. l. davey, j. c. hill, d. phillips, m. alexander, w. johns,w. h. edgar, t. p. hannah, a. a. harris, mayors, kew, henry weedon